Sketching Emotions, Playing Through Feelings: An Art-to-AR Adventure

Imagine a world where teenagers' hand-drawn emotions transform into an interactive AR adventure. This talk explores the intersection of art therapy, game design, and augmented reality technology to support adolescent mental wellbeing.

We'll take you through the complete journey of creating an AR escape game—from theoretical foundations to technical implementation. Participants first express suppressed emotions through individual and collaborative artwork in carefully designed workshops, then see their creations come alive as AR markers that unlock emotional narratives and healing experiences.

Through this comprehensive case study, you'll learn:
- How to design workshop structures that foster emotional safety while encouraging authentic expression - The theoretical framework combining Art-Based Methodologies (ABM) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Creative and technical processes for transforming physical artwork into interactive AR game elements
- Practical implementation strategies using Unity AR Foundation for user-generated content Ethical considerations and participant protection measures when working with adolescents on sensitive topics
- Data collection and feedback mechanisms for participatory design research